An awning for your caravan can do more than just give you some shade from the midday sun; it can actually increase your living space and help protect items you don't want to store inside. A good awning can mean an added dining area outside your caravan and allow you to wash down your pets before they step inside as well as keep bikes, a barbecue, and other such items out of the rain and other elements. When choosing a new awning for your caravan, you might be surprised at the many options you have; note a few tips for ensuring you make the right investment.
Setup
Some awnings are permanent fixtures that you attach to the side of a caravan while some are portable and you need to set them up yourself, like pitching a tent. Note if you can do this yourself or with your traveling companion; a retired couple might struggle more to get a portable awning up and ready than someone with teenagers who can help manage the legs that need to be extended and erected. A permanent awning that is affixed to the side of the caravan might not provide as much shade as it may need to be smaller than a temporary awning, but it can also mean just cranking a handle to get it open and closed.
Fabric
Usually, you can choose between a canvas awning, polyester, or acrylic. Canvas awnings allow in more light and air so that they may actually be more comfortable on hot days when you appreciate a breeze through your awning. They also dry quickly after a rainfall, and you may find more styles of canvas awnings than any other. However, they may allow in more rain which means they may not be good for those who use their awning to store bikes, a barbecue, and other such items.
Polyester awnings may be more durable than canvas; if you tend to camp in areas that might experience high winds that could shred a canvas awning, choose polyester. They are also very easy to clean as you usually just need to sponge them down.
Acrylic awnings are typically the most expensive but also the most durable. They often look more rigid; this gives them their added durability as they aren't likely to get damaged in storms or high winds. When choosing the fabric or material, note how often you plan to use your caravan and awning. If you travel often and will be consistently rolling and unrolling your awning, invest in a more durable polyester or acrylic material.
For more information, contact local professionals like Wilfords Annexes.
Share12 August 2016
Hello. My name is Dean and this is my home and garden blog. Last year, I decided I needed to improve the look of my home. I visited several home and garden centres and various different shops but I just couldn't find the items I wanted. I had this dream of creating a really cool and funky look based on an African design I had seen. My friend suggested that I customise the items to create the look I wanted and began to give me some lessons. I really enjoyed the process and I learnt a lot about how to improve your home and garden.